5 things to know about wearable technology in medicine

Practice Management
Laura Dyrda -

Wearable technology is making a dent in healthcare, for both patients and physicians.

An infographic with information based on IMS research, MeMD, ABI Research, Deloitte and Rackspace examines several aspects of healthcare wearables. Here are five key notes on wearable technology in healthcare:

 

1. Fitness and medical wearables was a $2 billion market in 2012 and expected to grow to $2.7 billion in 2014. In 2016, there will be 100 million devices and the market is expected to reach $5.8 billion in 2019.

 

2. Eighty-eight percent of physicians want patients to monitor their health parameters at home. One in three British and American citizens are willing to use wearable health technology to share personal data with healthcare providers.

 

3. Among patients who are wearable tech users, 82 percent of Americans believe the technology enhanced their lives. Fitness and medical wearables accounted for 60 percent of the wearables market in 2013.

 

4. Wearable technology for patients includes:

 

• Smart contact lenses to measure glucose level in tears
• Electronic sensor tattoos to monitor skin hydration, temperature and electronic signals
• Smart fitness bands for range of activity measurements from paces walked to hours slept
• Smart watches to monitor heart rate, calorie burn and pulse, in addition to other functions
• Smart socks to coach running techniques and heart rate in real time
• Wearable pain relief patch to manage and track pain

 

5. Google X Lab research division is developing more accurate wearables for the market to send patient information to physicians. The division built Google Glass smart visors and is developing smart contact lenses to test diabetes measuring the blood sugar level in tears, according to a US News report.

 

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